The E,Z-configured 1,3-diene unit is a common motif in numerous bioactive natural products. Although several powerful methods are available to produce these motifs with high levels of selectivity, their construction within a complex, polyfunctionalised structure, such as a natural product, requires well-defined strategies to avoid undesirable reactions and low-to-moderate selectivities. The aim of this review is to provide a full account of the stereoselective strategies for building E,Z-configured 1,3-dienes, as well as to highlight selected total syntheses that employ them. 2.3. Heck Reactions 2.4. CÀ H activation reactions 2.5. Ir-Catalysed Olefinations 2.6. Carbonyl Olefination Reactions 2.7. Elimination Strategies 2.8. Double Bond Isomerisation Strategies 2.9. Metathesis Strategies 2.10. Ene-Yne Triple Bond Reduction Strategies 2.11. Organocatalysed 1,6-Michael Additions 3. Applications in Total Synthesis: Selected Examples 4. Conclusion